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Show I BOX 2 ELDER NEWS. i ) Brigham City. Utah Sunday, May 15, 1977 LIKE IT OR NOT... Editorially Speaking BLM Regs Handcuff Utah 874 or let it die as scheduled Either fix PL In the closing moments of the 94th Congress last year, a bill was passed which has extraordinary effect on the citizens of the state of Utah. The measure Anyone who attends meetings of the Box Elder Board of Education will soon become acquainted with the program of federal funding to the local district under Public Law 874. This is the measure which authorizes Uncle Sam to send money to local school districts in lieu of taxes. The reasoning is this: Federal installations or federally-connecte- d employment bring the burden of educating children (of the federal employs) but without tax revenues associated with the private sector which creates jobs. There are 17 of Utahs 40 districts which annually receive such funds, including Box Elder which this year anticipated about $400,000. However, indications are now that it will amount to only about $335,450 perhaps even less. SUCH IS THE unpredictable na- ture of this controversial funding measure. Districts are never quite sure how much to expect since the criteria for determining allocations are constantly changing. And the money comes late, too late to fit within the bounds of practical bookkeeping procedures. The measure has not found favor in the White House in recent year. There are other critics as well to pose an additional negative factor. After hearing the latest report on prospects for funding under PL 874 at Wednesdays board meeting, weve just about come to the conclusion that it should be junked. The law is due to expire on June 30, 1978, and we wonder if it wouldnt be best to let the poor, battered thing die a natural death and be buried. This would create an additional financial burden for Utah, but once done would free us from this annual game of financial hide-and-see- WE SAY THIS while knowing ington, D.C. Now he specializes in hot potatoes the political kind. The latest is to recognize that something must be done to reverse the drain on this countrys Social Security pension fund. In a message to Congress, the president said $83 billion in new revenue is needed for Social Security be 1982. Otherwise, the fund that finances benefits for disabled persons will be exhausted in 1979, while e the fund from which and survivors benefits are paid will run out in 1983. He proposes to raise the money by requiring business to pay Social Security taxes on all workers wages, increasing the amount paid by employes and dipping into the nations general revenues fund. Already, arguments have been voiced against Mr. Carters plan. And theyre valid: It would constitute a heavy financial burden for small businessmen and drawing old-ag- that marshaling forces to lobby for renewal of PL 874. With this kind of pressure, it can safely be predicted that the funding measure will be given new life. However, if this is to be the case, may we humbly suggest that its structure and administration be altered to a more fair and reasonable form if, in fact, this is possible within the federal community. Districts deserve to know before the budget year is completed how much they were to have received for that year. And we shouldnt have to put up with constant changing of the allocation formula. This really isnt too much to ask. from general funds would establish a dangerous precedent never intended for the Social Security system. Besides, leaning on general income tax funds which are already insufficient, producing substantial annual deficits, to save another fund from bankruptcy is perhaps not the soundest approach. But, hooray, that finally the issue is being confronted head-on- . In the past, too many members of Congress have either recognized the problem and then chosen to ignore it or have denied that the Social Security fund is headed for trouble. Why wait until the dilemma swamps us? With citizens living longer, thus increasing the demand on retirement funds, and with Social Security benefits tied to the situation can only become more accute. The president, as he has shown himself prone to do, figures now is the time to act. And hes tossed this hot potato to Congress. We dont know the answer. But, obviously one is needed. And the sooner the better. cost-of-livin- editorial published in these columns, attention focused on the administrations proposal to permit election day registration by voters. This would stimulate greater citizen participation at the polls, it is reasoned. We suggested that existing requirements hardly constitute an undue hardship; that if citizens were really interested and informed, they could manage the sacrifice of time and effort involved in registering before election day. Since those recent observations, its been reported that an internal Justice department memo said same-da- y registration has wide- But spread potential for voter fraud.hush-hush this development has received treatment from the admini stration. We dont like that. We dont place much confidence in decisions made without benefit of all the facts. Neither did several members of the Senate Rules committee in a discussion of the bill this past week. They wanted to know more about a Justice department survey of the nations 94 US attorneys on the fraud potential. Instead, they received a letter from Attorney General Griffin Bell which indicated the Justice department had no reservations about the bill. a majority of five Democrats on the panel this was acceptable. To three Republican members and a conservative southern Democrat, it was not. To What do you think? assembly. The introducer finished with these words : And now I give you our next president ... I was supposed to speak then. But never did get to. The hysterical laughter which erupted from the audience consumed all of my time. In fact, it ran right through the lunch hour. Never saw anything like it. There are many reasons why some folks dont like to get involved in political party activity. For example: If it had been meant for them to be so engaged, they would have been born a donkey or an elephant . . . they always thought the word political meant someone from Tijuana who eats celery . . . they went to a political party once and there wasnt even any ice cream or balloons. Thats why it was refreshing this past week to hear Studentbody President Val Thurston from Box Elder High school propose to the board of education that a new election system be adopted at his ' school. On hand to help answer questions on the subject was Lloyd Poelman, another outstanding member of the BEHS student ranks, who has done lengthy research on the subject. The young people figure theyd like to pattern their process of choosing leaders after that of the real world outside. They want to form parties and have conventions, figuring it will create more involvement, greater familiarity with the candidates and prepare them to be more responsible adults. Super thinking, huh? During Pow Wows prep period, American Viewpoints Anyway, as the Box Elder stu- , system, we can only hope that the experience is a positive one. And that they dont follow too closely the examples set by some of their adult counterparts. For instance, when they retire to smoke-fille- d rooms for those critical decisions behind the scene, hopefully they wont do the smoking. Perhaps they could call on the services of some professional smokey room fillers. And in their conventions, its to be desired that delegates pay more attention to the speakers than their funny hats, noise makers and sandwiches from the corner delicatessen. And dont engage in uncontrollable laughter when a candidate is introduced. It can make him feel dejected. Even worse he might suffer irreparable emotional im- pairment and end up writing a column like this. See how bad it could be? Letters to the Editor... It ment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent enroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usur- pations. James Madison BOX ELDER NEWS nttbllihi Mwiptpcr published avtry Sunday k Ildar tS First Wait, Brigham City, Utah, Sacond Clan poitaga paid a post offlca, li South First ISM Bo Brigham City, Utah, 84302. rata $10 00 par yaar pay-abl- a advanca in connection with Ildar Journal (published Subscription tha In Bo Thursdays) In Bo Eldar County. , Subscription rata 114.00 par yaar pay-abl- a In advanca In connaction with tha Bo Ildar Journal (publlshad Thursdays) outsida Bo Eular County. Charlas "Tuff" Claybaugh Fubllshar General Managar Editor Bruca T. Kayas, Managing Mlha tarry, Sports Editor Sarah Yatas, Society Editor Arland Tlngay, Nawspapar Supr. Van Claybaugh, Fhoto-Fras- s Supr. H. E. Andarson, Commarclal Frlnting Supr. Shlrlay Kicherdwn, Classlfiadi Batty Claybaugh, Circulation Federal Land Policy and Management Act, but the major flaw is the lack of input from, or regard for, the people who derive their livelihood from the public lands. The Act authorized the publishing of rules for the use of BLM lands dents pursue their new election was injured, afraid concerned Some Utahns say the only to the BLM answer - Organic Act is its repeal. They may be right. But until enough support is generated in the Congress to take such action, a way must be developed to live with this monstrosity. officials Meanwhile, from the BLM are describing their role under the act of administrators as lands that must be held in the public trust in In addition, perpetuity. These they have said, lands will be classed as de facto wilderness areas until new rules to govern lands BLM are developed. It this kind of this obvious language, for the economy disregard g of Utah, and that causes deep emotional concern and reaction by the citizens of Utah. Only time will tell what lies in the future for Utah as a result of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, its regulations and enforcement by the BLM. is well-bein- Crying wolf' lt i ; , Editor: ' " me!'l This morning I heard a cry of Help me! Help hurried out to see what was the matter, and found a couple of boys who were playing games. They junior high-ag- e thought it was extremely funny to see me run out. No one likes to be made fun of. I came in the house, feeling rather foolish. But, then I thought back to the well publicized occurance of a few years back when a girl was attacked on a busy street in New York, and I began to wonder if, perhaps, that wasnt the reason no one came to her rescue? Like the story of the little boy who cried wolf, after a few false alarms, people begin to get a little leery of making a fool of themselves again. Why go to all the trouble to help( ? ) someone in need, only to find that the whole thing is merely a game? TV could also be a culprit. How many of the shows on TV are the type that have make-believ- e beatings, deaths and so on? What seems horrible for the first time or two, gets a little more palatable with each viewing, until, at last, it doesnt even bother you. Its just part of the story. The same for movies. I had a couple of calls about my last letter in the paper regarding the PG ratings from people who thought I was silly to complain about them. One person had seen Its Alive and Bug, and found nothing whatever objectionable with either show ! I wonder, if this person heard a cry for help, if it would have been answered? We are our brothers keepers! It is our responsibility to help them when they need our assistance! No one should do anything to make anyone else leery of giving such help! Perhaps, the next person to need a Good Samaritan might be the very person who had made the cry of wolf! a game. Sincerely yours: Jeanne B. Wilson Praise hospital service adress and telephone number. It is suggested that letters not exceed 250 words in length. of the abridg- There are many shortcomings in the journalism. The editor invites and welcomes letters for publication in these columns. However, contributions must be signed and also bear the writers instances bureaucracy. The doctor said it produced permanent brain damage. And that probably explains why PW has enjoyed such longevity in g, Need to consider all facts in voter bill In a previous 30-fo- ot districts across the country are another hot potato President Jimmy Carter was a peanut farmer before changing his address from Plains, Ga., to Wash- concern about the way elections were conducted ranked just after his burning desire to build a statue to that great Irish composer, Sunny Day. Of course, there was a reason. His psyche was scarred from an abortive election endeavor. This resulted when, as a candidate for office, PW was introduced at a studentbody k. Social Security issue is ..,, csrs is en- titled the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, popularly referred to as the BLM Organic Act and directly applies to nearly 60 of the lands within the boundaries of the Beehive State which are controlled by the Federal Government. Basically this Act gives the Bureau of Land Management legitimacy as a federal land holding agency something the BLM bureaucrats have been seeking from the time the agency was organized. A former governor of Utah said on several ocThe Bureau of casions, Land Management has more control over the lives of the people of our state than I do. He was speaking of BLM regulatory control over as much as 90 of the lands in some of Utahs 29 counties. The BLM Organic Act became law after the Governors remarks and gives even more authority to the which are now called Surface Mining Regulations. These regulations were first established this year without the least bit of input from the public, and it took 15 United States Senators in a joint letter to the Secretary of Interior just to obtain public hearings on the regulations regulations that were drafted pursuant to the law enacted just a few months earlier by that same Congress. . . . Editor: On May 3, while my son, Gus II, and I were making a delivery to the city refuse dump, our tale began. Over the screeching of the seagulls, he heard something a little different, more like a meow. After a little searching he picked up a tiny charcoal gray kitten, injured, afraid and hungry. With tears in his eyes he said, What should we do, dad? There was only one thing to do help it. On the way back to Brigham City we dropped it off at the Bear River Animal hospital where Dr. Clark S. Asay examined it and said he would have to keep it for a day. When we returned for it, we found that its injuries were a broken back foot, shattered tail, smashed numerous front foot, and numerous cuts and bruises. The doctor had had to amputate its tail, splint its leg and treat the cuts. Since that time it has been back in the hospital to have most of the back foot amputated. Thanks to Dr. Asays care and attention, and a lot of love from Gus and his brother, Chris (and mom and dad), we now have the cutest, spunkiest, happiest little ball of fur in Brigham City. We only have one problem now. How to explain to our boys the mentality of the person who could (and would) dispose of a living thing in that manner. Gus Kihlstadlus, 316 Linda Way, Brigham City . Editor: We would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the doctors, nurses and staff members at the Brigham City Community hospital for the excellent service we received on April 1 when our son Danny was bom. They were extremely helpful and efficient in the emergency that existed. Danny, being a premature birth, needed a lot of immediate and expert help and because of the quick action and expertise of the personnel at the hospital he received this care and we are so very grateful. He is presently in the newborn infant care unit at the University of Utah Medical center and is doing fairly well. We would like to let the residents of Box Elder county know what an excellent hospital we have and how expertly it is managed. We sincerely extend our appreciation and thanks to everyone that was on duty and helped in any way on the night of April 1. Sincerely, Deraid and Julia Waters 36 Sumac Way Brigham City Better at Heritage Editor: I just saw I Do, I Do at the Heritage theatre. It is far superior to the production of I Do, I Do I saw in Salt Lake City with professional people. The actors at the Heritage play it with a great deal of feeling, the music is good and the humor exceptionally good. This play is so delightfully true to life. It could happen, and probably does, to any of us. I heartily recommend this production to everyone who would enjoy an evening of live theatre and at almost ridiculously low prices, too! Very truly yours, Jessie Hamson j V |